Disney News

VIDEO: Disney’s Beach Club Life Sized Gingerbread Carousel Tour

21 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

Last night while visiting Epcot with friends, I took some video of Disney’s Beach Club Resort’s fabulous life sized Gingerbread Carousel. This year the resort also features a little shop that sells the gingerbread houses and other treats. I’m definitely no Samantha Brown or Lou Mongello, but I hope you enjoy my first attempt at actually taking and narrating video! At the very least, I know you’ll enjoy the AMAZING creations from Walt Disney World’s pastry chefs. Stay tuned for more holiday videos from Walt Disney World soon!

First Look: Disney PROM Trailer

18 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Remember your prom? Check out this new film from Disney and see how the more times change, the more they stay the same –

At “Prom,” every couple has a story and no two are exactly alike. Several intersecting stories unfold at one high school as the big dance approaches; “Prom” portrays the precarious passage from high school to independence as some relationships unravel and others ignite.

For Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), it’s a battle of wills as she finds herself drawn to the guy (Thomas McDonell) who gets in the way of her perfect prom. Fellow seniors Mei (Yin Chang) and Tyler (De’Vaughn Nixon) harbor secrets, while others face all the insecurity and anticipation that surrounds one of high school’s most seminal events.

There are hundreds of nights in high school, but there’s only one “Prom.” Featuring an emerging ensemble cast and a powerful soundtrack, “Prom” hits theaters April 29, 2011.

NEW Muppet Movie with Jason Segel First Look Photo!

10 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 7 Comments

Check out this picture sent to us from Disney – the first look at the all-new Muppet Movie featuring the writing and acting talents of Jason Segel, which is tentatively called The Muppets and premiers December 25, 2010. Click for the full-size image:

Muppet Movie Jason Segel — Who's that Muppet with an iPhone?!

According to TheFilmStage.com, Jason shares that “His name is Walter and he teams with Kermit the Frog and his muppet pals “to put on a show to save their old theater.” … Walter is the kind of guy who faints when he sees Kermit. Walter has a little bit of a self-confidence issue because he’s the only person like him that he’s seen aside from the Muppets….Segel explained. His dream is to meet the Muppets and be around people who are like him.“

Can’t wait for this film, being a huge Muppet AND Jason Segal fan!

Disney Store Times Square NYC Behind the Scenes With Jodi Benson

9 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Today’s post is brought to you by fellow Disney fan and friend, Jennifer Meyering. Jennifer may be found with other Walt Disney World planning experts at their fan site – Disney Dream Depot. Each week they put on a web chat on Disney topics and share their advice with readers and viewers alike. She was recently chosen by Jim Fielding, the Disney Store President and favorite among Disney twitter fans, to experience a special backstage tour of the brand new Times Square Disney Store before its official grand opening. I asked Jen to share her family’s experience here with us – be sure to watch the accompanying slide show with pictures from the event! Enjoy!

I recently had one of the most amazing experiences I could have ever imagined– a Behind-the-Scenes look of the new Times Square Disney Store! I was able to have this wonderful experience courtesy of the Disney Store President (Jim Fielding) and a contest he had on Twitter. I won entrance into the very limited space D23 event at the new Disney store on November 7.

The event was a pre-opening behind-the-scenes look of the new store that included a continental breakfast, remarks by Jim Fielding, and the chance to meet Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. It was everything, and more, that you would expect.

Now in Walt Disney World – Disney SNUGGIES!

7 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Friend and fellow Disney and theme park fan Banks Lee spotted these beauties for sale at the Magic Kingdom the other day. I have to say, I have never before wanted a Snuggie^*…until now! I think Disney did a great job with the two designs and hopefully there will be even more in the future as well!

I also saw some Nightmare Before Christmas Snuggies when I was in Hot Topic the other day so be on the lookout for those too. (Which is funny since Tim Burton has actually openly poked fun at the Snuggie phenomenon!)

Disney Mickey and Minnie Snuggie — Banks did not catch the price, but I'm willing to bet they are around $20+ I will look for them next weekend!

EDIT: Thanks to Orlando Attractions magazine for tweeting that they are for sale at around $28 (30 with tax). I was in the ball-park huh? 🙂

Many thanks to Banks Lee for permission to share this photo with you all!

*Of course I have to say that Snuggie is a registered brand name and these are not Snuggie brand, but it’s much easier to say than “sleeved blanket” 😉

Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts Merchandise in Hot Topic!

6 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

While visiting our local mall the other day, I noticed tons of cool new Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts merchandise at Hot Topic. I thought I’d share some here so Epic Mickey fans can be sure to stock up on their favorites before the game is released on November 30!

Epic Mickey Kingdom Hearts Hot Topic — Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts T-shirts and jewelry at Hot Topic

TRON: Legacy Preview Clip: “Quorra Saves Sam” from TRON Night IMAX Event

29 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

In anticipation of TRON: Legacy, opening in theatres December 17, Walt Disney Studios has been celebrating each week as the countdown continues to the event of the season.

TRON Night: An IMAX 3D Experience, a special event took place on October 28, 2010, gave audiences worldwide the first opportunity to step onto the Grid and into the cutting-edge, 3D world of Walt Disney Pictures’ high-tech adventure “TRON: Legacy,” with an exciting 20-plus-minute sneak peek of the highly anticipated film, sponsored by ASUS Computer International.

Here is a short clip of that sneak peek:

How Do You Pronounce Karamell-Küche? Simple: Delicious!

26 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Or scrumptious, or heavenly…any of those adjectives will work. All joking aside, if you really want to know how to pronounce küche, just click to listen. And now you know. Ok, housekeeping aside, lets get to the good stuff! Pictures of yummy caramel creations!

While I can in no way compete with the amazing coverage of all things food-related at Disney from AJ at the Disney Food Blog, I also could not resist taking pictures to share while inside Epcot’s newest siren of sugar, Karamell-Küche. Located within the Germany pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase. If you are a fan of caramel, you will quite simply, have reached nirvana when you step inside. And it’s not just caramel hard candies that the shop’s sponsor, Werther’s is most known for here in the states. There are caramel dipped apples covered in chocolate, caramel and chocolate fudge, caramel-filled cookies, caramels rolled with marshmallow, caramel-infused cupcakes. It’s everywhere.

As if that weren’t enough, the good folks at Karamell-Küche have seen fit to give us another gift – caramel coated popcorn which words alone cannot describe, you simply must try it. It is the perfect mix of buttery caramel crunchy perfection. Sadly the day I walked in they had just started to make a new batch so I don’t have any fun pictures of them mixing up the popcorn, (darn, guess I’ll have to go back!) but when you queue up to place your order, you walk by the huge copper bowls where they are mixing the heavenly concoction. There’s that word again – heavenly! It truly is. At only $2.95 for a small bag or $5.95 for a large one, it’s also the best new snack value in Epcot, in my opinion!

What follows are some of the items available that day. I urge you to take the time to wait in line and experience these wonders for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

Downtown Disney Restaurants Pollo Campero and Fresh A-Peel Construction Photos

25 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Over the weekend we met up with friends who have just relocated to central Florida and walked around Downtown Disney. I hadn’t seen the construction progress on Pollo Campero – the new Latin chicken restaurant opening soon – since McDonald’s closed down, so I thought I’d share what looks like a really cool design. Love the colors and the stonework!

EDIT: Thanks to Keith from MouseMisers for clearing up the “Fresh A-Peel” signs that I thought were part of Pollo Campero. We now know that Fresh A-Peel is a new fresh concept named (featuring fresh salads, sandwiches, fruits and healthy snacks) plus vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free, low-sodium or organic offerings.

Photos of Disney’s Old Key West Resort’s Renovated Rooms

20 October 2010 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

A few weeks back, we stayed at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, one of our family’s favorites and were able to request and receive a renovated room. The Disney Parks Blog recently posted some pictures of the updated rooms, so I thought I’d add a few of our own highlighting some other details.

My family are not Disney Vacation Club members, but with my husband and I, an 11 and 10 year-old, a 2 year-old and occasionally my mom, we like staying in DVC properties because of the extra space. We rarely use the kitchen facilities other than the refrigerator but we definitely use every other inch of space and amenity these wonderful resorts offer.

Old Key West in general is one of our favorites because of the beautiful lush, secluded atmosphere the resort possesses. I’ve said this many times, but I could really spend a month at Disney just chilling out at the resorts they are so relaxing and Old Key West is no exception. We’ve always loved Olivia’s restaurant and the pool area too. The only issue we ever had with Old Key West was that it was starting to show its age. In fact, the last time we stayed there around my birthday last year, we actually complained to management about some things, just because I wanted them to be aware of what we’d experienced. So when we were told at that time that the resort was scheduled for refurbishment in the coming year, we were relieved and excited.

Our most recent stay was completely problem-free and we had a wonderful time. Old Key West continues to be on our ‘favorites’ list (which actually has a lot of resorts on it because it’s so hard to choose just one!). The renovated rooms, which will be completed resort-wide by March 2011, now all have the same mattresses and shower heads used in the other Deluxe resorts, which are heavenly. There are other little decorative touches here and there, but the most prominent changes are shown below —

Old Key West's Renovated Rooms — New laminate wood floors everywhere but the bathrooms, where the original tile remains, granite counter tops and Roman blinds on the French doors.